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free NE species large ★ 5.8 Metallic

Megacephala baxteri

Werner, 2003

Common name: Baxteri Tiger Beetle

Subtribe
Megacephalina
Bioregion
Afrotropical
Countries
1
Body length
24.5 mm
Habitat
coastal-sandy
Activity
nocturnal
Wings
macropterous

Distribution

Tanzania

Coastal habitatBiome: Coastal sandy

Flight period

I

Active October–April (peak Jan–Nov)

II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII

X-IV (rainfall-triggered, Afrotropical wet season)

Key diagnostic characters

DIAGNOSIS — Megacephala Latreille, 1802 Body 15–25 mm, robust Megacephalini with markedly enlarged head. Ground color bright metallic (green, gold, blue).

Precise distribution

TZ

Confidence profile

geo:M|bio:H|morph:H|pheno:I|elev:I|obs:M

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Taxonomic notes

Original combination: [orig. comb.] bocandei bocandei (Bates, 1878) (Bates, 1878)

Originally described as bocandei bocandei (Bates, 1878); transferred to Megacephala · Verified in Wiesner 2020 checklist

Synonym: Cicindela bocandei bocandei (Bates, 1878) [basionym]

Data quality: 75/100  ·  Source: GBIF; Wiesner2020; matrix-morphology  ·  Verified by V. Štrunc · Audited: 2026-05-13

Frequently asked

What is the Bocandei Tiger Beetle?
Megacephala Latreille, 1802 is a robust Afrotropical tiger beetle genus whose broad, enlarged head is wider than the pronotum — the source of its name. Active after dark on bare or sandy soils, these metallic-green to gold beetles are among the most striking nocturnal predators of African open hab
Where does the Bocandei Tiger Beetle live?
It specialises in coastal sandy habitats. distributed across the Afrotropical region. with records from Guin
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